and then we got home and there was water all over the floor…

A funny thing happened on the way to pick up my sister. Backing up, a funny thing happened with my monthly cycle which is neither funny nor a thing, but after numerous ultrasounds and blood tests we’re going to try hormones and then maybe a biopsy of the uterus. But as usual, I’m getting ahead of myself (even though I’m weeks behind).

My last cycle was so weird it was frightening so I hemmed and hawed for a couple weeks and then decided to do something. Luckilly we live in Mexico, so I can just show up on the doorstep of the Diagnostic Imaging (ultrasounds, MRI’s, X-rays, etc.) and say, “hey, I’m kinda feeling ultrasoundy today; whatchagot available?” and they tell me to drink 2 litros of water while they jump start the mammogram machine. I joke; it was all very new machinery. But without any appointment or doctors involvement, I got ultrasounds of the ovaries, uterus, breasts, blood tests, bone density tests, PAP and other tests I can’t even remember. I had to come back the next day for blood and urine as I’d had the audacity to drink coffee (but nothing else) that morning. During the ultrasounds, the technician talked to me about her findings and I was assured that all was fine. Since my greatest fear (isn’t it always?) cancer; she was able to ascertain no masses, cysts or fibroids of any kind. They did suggest I visit a gyn, so I got a recommendation and an appointment for the next day. I’m very happy with the care I’ve received so far and couldn’t ask for more.

We’ve been cleaning like mad (considering the trailer was glowing at night from the masses of poison we dumped in it to destroy the cockroaches trying to take it over) and moving all the crap we moved OUT of the trailer back INTO the trailer, and cleaning and re-cleaning. Ellen gave us a run for our money by charcoaling a piece of pizza and we had oodles of fun getting the smoke smell out of the trailer, seeing as we really had nothing else to do at the moment. We slept in the trailer for about a week to verify that it was cockroach free and then tried to get it ready for our guests.

We’d planned a stop at Costco to stock up and pickup some treats for our guests (my sister and family) but a funny thing happened on the way. We lost a bolt, the bearings and a belt for some stuff in the van and as a result lost brakes, alternator and power steering. So I stopped. Once Jamie ascertained he couldn’t fix it I called the Green Angels and flagged down a ride to the airport to pick up Chris and family. Unfortunately, they were detained by the complete and utter loss of all luggage. To further complicate matters, she couldn’t tell them our address as she was behind customs and I was not only outside customs, but not allowed in the terminal. Luckily, this is Mexico, and I was able to get to customs and have a note taken to Chris with our address so the luggage will hopefully show up tomorrow. So we got Chris and family and then let them in on the bad news that while they made it to Mexico, they had no ride.

Generally, the guys at the airport providing ground transportation are out to fleece you out of the highest amount possible in the guise of getting you to your destination. Everyone says to ignore the taxi guys and try for a colectivo. Luckily, I ignored that advice and told our tale of woe to the taxista supervisor, “we need to get to the taller mechanico (Jamie had been texting me with updates; Green Angel arrived; has no idea what to do; tied a rope to the van and is towing us to taller; taller wants to make sure he’ll be paid as I only have 300 pesos) but I have no idea where he is, but I have his phone number and can you call him and figure out how to get us there.”. And he did it. And charged us for 4 people (we were 3 adults and 4 kids) and encouraged the taxista driving the colectivo to get us to the taller and not just drop us in the hotel zone. Which he did, wonderfully. Chris and family were TROUPERS, up since 4:30, losing luggage, getting driven to a dirty, dark sidewalk in an unfamiliar city while waiting to see if the van could be fixed well enough to drive elsewhere. FINALLY, after hours, the taller got the van back together and we headed out. Unfortuately, soon after leaving the mechanico, the battery light came on, the headlights and instrument panel dimmed at idle and the air bag light came on. Freakyness, but we decided to try and get home and home we got and cleanedup the water everywhere (Jamie suspects the garrafon water cooler and I suspect the washer) and got clothes for the guests and tomorrow we attack the problem with the “fixed” van. Worse come worse, we’ll simply enjoy our beach instead of Ek Balam, Valladolid, Coba, Cozumel, etc.

And Aunt Kathy, THANK YOU for the cinnamon stars!